Smuggler's House
Why it's listed
Known locally as the Smuggler's House, this farmhouse at 361 Pearse Road in Swansea's Touisset section dates to about 1800. It is a 1½-story, five-bay, gabled Federal dwelling with a double-pile plan, a single brick chimney, a pilaster-framed center entry with a six-panel door and transom, and 12/12 windows. A 1938 restoration, after the house fell into disrepair in the early 20th century, added two dormers and a one-story kitchen wing. A mid-19th-century milk house and an early 20th-century garage stand to the north. The name comes from a reported use of the house to hide goods such as tea smuggled into Swansea during the War of 1812. Pearse Road links the property to the old Pearse's Wharf on the Cole's River. In 1820 William and Anna Gardner owned the house, and Captain Gardner commanded a cargo ship. Later resident Aaron H. Wood became captain of the merchant ship Monarch of the Sea. The house is valued as an intact farmhouse tied to the town's seafaring past.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact Federal period farmhouse that keeps its integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association. It is tied to Swansea's 19th-century maritime life and to a reported use as a hideaway for goods smuggled in during the War of 1812. It is cited as meeting Criteria A and C at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000065, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 361 Pearse Rd., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000065 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and in use as a residence; it has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.73491, -71.22326 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000065.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7546595
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.